One of the great stories from Japan’s rich history comes to life in this true tale of the bloody showdown between two rival yakuza gangs in the 1840’s. The battle between Boss Sukegoro of Iioka and Boss Shigezo of Sasagawa has been portrayed many times, most notably in the first Zatoichi film, where the blind man befriends the tubercular ronin Hirate Miki, before cutting him down in one of the great duels in cinema history. This all-star extravaganza pulls out all the stops, with appearances by virtually all of the great actors and actresses from Toei’s studio at the time. Ichikawa Utaemon’s portrayal of the kind-hearted, noble yakuza boss Shigezo of Sasagawa contrasts sharply with the devious Sukegoro of Iioka. Corrupt as he may have been, his men were all willing to give up their lives for him.
市川右太衛門
as Sasagawa no Shigezo
東千代之介
as Kiyotaki no Sakichi
萬屋錦之介
as Sunosaki no Masakichi
尾上鯉之助
as
里見浩太朗
as
若山富三郎
as
伏見扇太郎
as
雪代敬子
as
丘さとみ
as
大川恵子
as
花園ひろみ
as
喜多川千鶴
as
